Stone Root

Summary and Pharmaceutical Comment

Information available on the chemistry of stone root is limited and no documented scientific evidence was located to justify the herbal uses. In view of the lack of data on pharmacological effects, efficacy and safety, the appropriateness of medicinal use of stone root should be considered. Excessive use, at least, should be avoided. Stone root should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. The potential for stone root preparations to interact with other medicines should be considered.

Species (Family)

Collinsonia canadensis L. (Labiatae/Lamiaceae)

Synonym(s)

Collinsonia punctata Ell., C. canadensis var. punctata (Ell.) Gray, Heal-All, Knob Root

Part(s) Used

Rhizome, root

Pharmacopoeial and Other Monographs

BHP 1983(G7)

Martindale 35th edition(G85)

Legal Category (Licensed Products)

GSL(G37)

Constituents

Terpenoids Pentacyclic triterpene caulophyllogenin,(1) saponin

Sglycosides.

Other constituents An unidentified alkaloid, mucilage, resin, tannins, essential oil.

Other parts of the plant Leaves and stems contain flavonoids 2,5-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavanone, baicalein-6,7-dimethyl

ether, norwogenin-7,8-dimethyl ether and tetrochrysin (5- hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone).(2)

Food Use

Stone root is not used in foods.

Herbal Use

Stone root is stated to possess antilithic, litholytic, mild diaphoretic and diuretic properties. Traditionally, it has been

used for renal calculus, lithuria, and specifically for urinary calculus.(G7, G64)

Figure 1 Selected constituents of stone root.

Figure 2 Stone root (Collinsonia canadensis).

Figure 3 Stone root – dried drug substance (rhizome).

Dosage

Dosages for oral administration (adults) for traditional uses recommended in standard herbal and older pharmaceutical reference texts are given below.

Dried root 1–4 g as a decoction three times daily.(G7)

Liquid extract 1–4 mL (1 : 1 in 25% alcohol) three times daily.(G7)

Tincture 2–8 mL (1 : 5 in 40% alcohol) three times daily.(G7)

Tincture of Collinsonia 2–8 mL.(G10)

Pharmacological Actions

None documented.

Side-effects, Toxicity

None documented. However, there is a lack of clinical and preclinical safety and toxicity data for stone root and further investigation of these aspects is required.

Contra-indications, Warnings

None documented.

Drug interactions None documented. In view of the lack of information on the constituents of stone root and their pharmacological activities, the potential for stone root preparations to interact with other medicines administered concurrently should be considered.

Pregnancy and lactation The safety of stone root has not been established. In view of the lack of phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological information, the use of stone root during pregnancy and lactation should be avoided.

Preparations

Proprietary multi-ingredient preparations

UK: Piletabs.

References

1Buckingham J, ed. Dictionary of Natural Products on CD-ROM. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2005.

2Stevens JF et al. A novel 2-hydroxyflavanone from Collinsonia canadensis. J Nat Prod 1999; 62: 392–394.

Summary and Pharmaceutical Comment

Pharmacological activities documented for tansy have been associated with the sterol and triterpene constituents. There is a lack of robust clinical research assessing the efficacy and

safety of tansy. Tansy yields an extremely toxic volatile oil, which should not be used internally or externally.(G58) In view

of this, the use of tansy as a herbal medicine is not justified even though documented studies have supported the traditional uses of the herb as a choleretic and anthelmintic agent. Tansy is contra-indicated in pregnancy and lactation.

Species (Family)

Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae/Compositae)

Synonym(s)

Chrysanthemum audiberti (DC.) P. Fourn., C. tanacetum Karsch non Vis., C. vulgare (L.) Bernh. non (Lam.) Gaterau, Pyrethrum vulgare (L.) Boiss. Tanacetum audibertii (Req.) DC., Tanacetum

Part(s) Used

Herb

Pharmacopoeial and Other Monographs

BHP 1983(G7)

Martindale 35th edition(G85)

Legal Category (Licensed Products)

Tansy is not included in the GSL.(G37)

Constituents

Steroids b-Sitosterol (major), campesterol, cholesterol, stigmasterol and taraxasterol.(1)

Terpenoids a-Amyrin (major), b-amyrin, sesquiterpene lactones

including arbusculin-A, tanacetin, germacrene D, crispolide;(2, 3) tanacetols A and B.(4, 5)

TVolatile oils 0.12–0.18%. Major components as b-thujone (up to 95%) and camphor, others include a-pinene, borneol, 1,8-cineole, umbellone and sabinene. At least ten different chemotypes have

been identified in which camphor was the most frequently occurring main component and thujone second.(4)

Other constituents Gum, mucilage, resin and tannins.

Food Use

Tansy is listed by the Council of Europe as a natural source of food flavouring (category N3). This category indicates that tansy can be added to foodstuffs in the traditionally accepted manner, although there is insufficient information for an adequate

assessment of potential toxicity. In addition, the Council of

Europe recommends that the concentration of thujones present in food products is restricted to 0.5 mg/kg.(G16) Tansy oil is

Figure 1 Selected constituents of tansy.

prohibited from use as a food flavouring by the Food Additives

and Contaminants Committee (FACC) in view of the thujone content.(G44)

Herbal Use

Tansy is stated to possess anthelmintic, carminative and antispasmodic properties and to act as a stimulant to abdominal viscera. Traditionally, it has been used for nematode infestation, topically for scabies (as a decoction) and pruritus ani (as an ointment), and specifically for roundworm or threadworm infestation in children.(G7)

Dosage

Dosages for oral administration (adults) for traditional uses recommended in standard herbal reference texts are given below.

Dried herb 1–2 g as an infusion three times daily.(G7)

Liquid extract 1–2 mL (1:1 in 25% alcohol) three times daily.(G7)

Pharmacological Actions

In vitro and animal studies

In vitro antispasmodic activity on rabbit intestine, and in vivo choleretic activity in the dog have been documented for tansy

Figure 2 Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).

extracts.(6) It was suggested that the choleretic action might be attributable to caffeic acid, a known bile stimulant that is present in tansy.(6) Anthelmintic activity in dogs has been described for tansy oil, an ether extract of the oil, and for b-thujone.(6) Daily intragastric doses of a tansy extract given to rabbits have been found to reduce serum lipid concentrations and inhibit further development of hypercholesterolaemia.(6) In addition, it was noted that recovery of blood sugar concentrations was inhibited in animals given twice daily doses. In vitro antifungal activity in 15 pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi has been reported.(6)

Clinical studies

There is a lack of clinical research assessing the effects of tansy and rigorous randomised clinical trials are required.

Aqueous infusions and alcoholic extracts have been reported to be clinically effective bile stimulants in patients with liver and gall bladder disorders.(6) The treatment alleviated pain and increased appetite and digestion.

Side-effects, Toxicity

Clinical data

Tansy oil contains the toxic ketone b-thujone.(G58) Symptoms of tansy oil poisoning are attributable to the thujone content and include rapid and weak pulse, severe gastritis, violent spasms and convulsions.(G22) Documented fatalities have mainly been associated with ingestion of the oil, although fatal cases of poisoning have occurred with infusions and powders.(6, 7) The ratio of toxic to therapeutic dose has been reported as 2.5 : 1 and it was noted that all tansy preparations should be administered with castor oil.(6) Tansy yields potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones which have been implicated in the aetiology of contact dermatitis.

Instances of contact dermatitis to tansy have been documented.(6,

G51)

Preclinical data

An oral LD50 value for tansy oil is stated as 1.15 g/kg body weight.(7)

Figure 3 Tansy – dried drug substance (herb).

In vitro and in vivo antitumour activity has been documented for tansy.(6)

Contra-indications, Warnings

Tansy oil is toxic and should not be used internally or externally.(G58) Fatalities have been reported following ingestion of infusions and extracts. Tansy contains allergenic sesquiterpene lactones and may cause an allergic reaction.

Drug interactions None documented. However, the potential for preparations of tansy to interact with other medicines administered concurrently, particularly those with similar or opposing effects, should be considered. There is limited evidence from preclinical studies that tansy has hypoglycaemic activity.

Pregnancy and lactation Tansy is contra-indicated in pregnancy and lactation. Tansy is reputed to affect the menstrual cycle and utero-activity has been documented in animal studies. The volatile oil contains b-thujone, a known hepatotoxin.

Preparations

Proprietary multi-ingredient preparations

Australia: Calmo.

References

Tanacetum vulgare. Phytochemistry 1987; 26: 1463–1465.

3Appendino G. Crispolide, an unusual hydroperoxysesquiterpene lactone from Tanacetum vulgare. Phytochemistry 1982; 21: 1099–1102.

4Holopainen M et al. A study on tansy chemotypes. Planta Med 1987; 53: 284–287.

5 Appendino G et al. Tanacetols A and B, non-volatile sesquiterpene alcohols, from Tanacetum vulgare. Phytochemistry 1983; 22: 509–512.

6 Opdyke DLJ. Tansy oil. Food Cosmet Toxicol 1976; 14: 869–871.

7Hardin JW, Arena JM, eds. Human Poisoning from Native and Cultivated Plants, 2nd edn. North Carolina: Duke University, 1974: 150–153.